The effect of experimental clutch harvest on numbers of magpie goose nests and juvenile recruitment

Abstract

The effect of harvest of magpie goose clutches on nest numbers and juvenile recruitment was investigated experimentally within a single breeding colony, by comparing the densities of nests and offspring (eggs and goslings) produced in harvested and unharvested blocks in each of two successive years. When adjusted for initial differences in nest density, by covariance analysis, there were significantly higher densities of nests in harvested blocks than in unharvested blocks, possibly due to re-laying in new nests by those geese whose clutches were harvested. There were no differences in densities of offspring produced between harvested and unharvested blocks although there were differences in densities of offspring produced between years.